OUTLINE: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to tumor stage (IIIB vs IV) and prior brain metastases (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 0. Arm II: Patients receive ISIS 3521 IV continuously on days 0-14 and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 3. Treatment repeats every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with stable or responsive disease receive 6 courses of treatment. Patients with responsive disease may receive additional courses of treatment. Patients are followed at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months and then every 3 months thereafter.